Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War will continue the war of the zombies into episode #23, pitting fallen Arrancar against fallen Soul Reapers (and one zombie Quincy) as Mayuri and the Quincy Giselle look on. Here’s everything a fan needs to know to tune into the latest episode and find out what happens.
When Do Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Episodes Release?
![Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Episode 23 Release Time](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bleach-tybw-giselle-shocked.jpg)
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War debuts new episodes on Hulu in the US and on Disney+ in most other countries. New episodes are released at 7:30 AM PT/10:30 AM ET. The subtitled release of episode 23 will be on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Saturdays also see the release of dubbed episodes, however dubbed episodes are about three weeks behind, so September 16 will see the release of dubbed episode #20. Episodes will, of course, remain available for streaming indefinitely after airing, so fans can watch at their leisure.
What Happened in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Episode #22?
![Bleach: the Zombie Arrancar make their debut.](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bleach-tybw-zombie-arrancar.jpg)
Episode #22 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War saw Yumichika and Ikkaku face off against Giselle, who immediately set a horde of zombified Soul Reapers upon them, many of whom were their former comrades. Mayuri, of all people, came to their rescue, and brought a few zombies of his own: Arrancar who were brought back from their deaths during the Hueco Mundo arc. Giselle then upped the stakes once again by revealing a zombie version of Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya, which signaled the end of the episode. Aside from zombie clashes, the episode also saw Ichigo preparing to return to the Soul King’s Palace to chase Yhwach.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Episode #23 Focuses on Zombie Hitsugaya
![Bleach: Zombie Hitsugaya appears.](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bleach-tybw-zombie-hitsugaya.jpg)
The appearance of a zombified Captain changes things for the Soul Reapers, as it’s established that Hitsugaya was zombified while still alive, maintaining his skill and power. Hitsugaya’s ice abilities make him a very dangerous opponent, and the situation escalates as Hitsugaya turns his blade on Mayuri. Mayuri, however, has some more mad science secrets left up his sleeve, which he deploys on Hitsugaya. The episode may also get into the confrontation elsewhere between Byakuya Kuchiki and several Sternritter, including one by the name of PePe who seems to have the ability to control others as well…
The zombie situation has risen to the level of a major problem at this point, but so long as Giselle can be defeated, there’s still hope for at least a few of her zombie minions. The bigger problem remains Yhwach’s ascension to the Soul King’s Palace with Uryu and Haschwalth at his side, and how exactly Ichigo and his friends may be able to stop them. While there’s a plan to get back to the Soul King’s Palace, the group really don’t have much of a strategy for dealing with Yhwach. That confrontation will likely have to wait, though, as the final episodes of this cour of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War roll out for the rest of the month.
Watch Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War episode #23 when it airs on September 16 on Hulu and Disney Plus.